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| FIAC Client Released by ICE | July 3, 2008 |
| Cheryl Little | |
| Release of ICE Detainee May Signal Improved Medical Care by Agency Detained U.S. resident released after 15 months without proper care for cancer and other serious ills Miami, July 3, 2008 – After 15 months in federal detention, Yong Sun Harvill, a legal U.S. resident, was freed today by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her release comes as the result of an equally long legal effort to obtain proper medical care for her life threatening conditions, which include cancer and Hepatitis C. Mrs. Harvill’s release followed the filing of a federal lawsuit by Mrs. Harvill’s attorneys at Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) and the law firm Steptoe & Johnson, LLP of Phoenix, Arizona. The Washington Post ran a front page story about Mrs. Harvill’s case on May 12, 2008. Cheryl Little, FIAC’s Executive Director, said \"Mrs. Harvill suffers from a rare and severe set of medical conditions and we\'re very grateful that ICE is releasing her. We\'re hopeful ICE will work to improve access to medical care for other detainees.\" FIAC has represented dozens of detainees in urgent need of medical care, and produced numerous reports documenting the serious deficiency of medical care provided those in ICE custody. FIAC’s work over the past decade in calling attention to this important issue led to Executive Director Cheryl Little’s most recent testimony to Congress in October 2007 - http://fiacfla.org/actionitems.php. A follow-up hearing was held on June 4, 2008, in conjunction with the Congress’ consideration of HB 5059 “The Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008.” The legislation requires ICE to provide medical care that complies with national and international standards and requires that all deaths in detention be reported to Congress and the public. Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center is one of the nation’s largest non-profit agencies providing immigrant legal services. FIAC was a primary source for The Washington Post 4-day series (May 11-14, 2008) on abusive and neglectful treatment of detainees in ICE custody. Three FIAC clients were featured in the series, including Mrs. Harvill. 60 Minutes produced a collaborative piece on the series (broadcast May 11, 2008), utilizing information from FIAC and interviews with client Edwidge Danticat. FIAC’s latest report on conditions faced by detainees in ICE custody is scheduled for release this summer. **** | |